Posted on Facebook by Samoa Lualima
READING 262-58
It has been given respecting how the individuals should in themselves, in their meditation, in their study, in their observation of that being presented in the lesson God and His Manifestations in the Earth, each make the application of that which is conscious in their individual experience. For, as He has given, ye may call "Lord, Lord," even may heal the sick, cast out demons even in His name, and yet not be accepted in His sight; for by the fruits ye shall know them that are called of the Lord, in the ways and manners that His manifestations are through the lives of the individuals that make profession in their life OF their associations; but if their life and the fruits of their lives bring not forth greater manifestations, and those things that are of the spirit, the fruits of the spirit, then they are none of His. Not everyone that saith "Lord, Lord," but he that doeth the will of the Father, the same is acceptable in His sight. What, then, are the manifestations of the Father in the earth? That ye do good unto all peoples, and that the fruits of the spirit are manifested in thy thoughts, in thy acts day by day as ye meet thy fellow men in their own conditions where troubles, doubts, fears, distresses arise. And as there is given those things into their experience from thine own desire to be the channel through which the manifestations of the spirit of the Christ, of the Christ Consciousness, may be in the experience of such individuals, thy words and thy acts are in keeping with that He, the Father, makes manifest in the earth through the Son - as He in His life made manifest in His walks in the earth, doing good to those whether they were of His fold or those that even rejected that He had done rather as an experience in their lives.
Then, as they each may manifest in the thought, in the application of those truths as He gave, they may come to those experiences wherein they oft may be as a lamp to the feet of the wayward, as an aid to those who seek, as a light to those that have gone astray, as a guiding hand to those that would know more and more of the love of the Father as it manifests in the acts, the thoughts, the lives of His followers.
READING 262-58 EXPLAINED
This reading (262-58) is strongly focused on one central idea: the Spirit of the Christ is not proven by what you say, but by how you live, think, and treat people every day. It begins by explaining that each person must take what they learn in meditation, study, and observation, and apply it in their own life. In other words, spiritual truth is not meant to stay as knowledge—it must become real in personal experience. This is why it warns that a person may say “Lord, Lord,” and even appear spiritual—doing things like healing or speaking in the name of God—and yet “not be accepted in His sight.” The reason is simple: words, titles, or outward actions are not the true measure. The real measure is what the reading calls “the fruits.”
The “fruits” are the visible results of the Spirit of the Christ working within a person. This connects directly to the life of Jesus Christ, who did not just speak about love—He lived it in action. The reading is saying that the same Spirit must be seen in us, not through appearance, but through daily life. If a person claims to follow the Christ but their life does not show greater kindness, patience, compassion, and truth, then the Spirit of the Christ is not truly active in them. That is why it says, “by the fruits ye shall know them,” meaning the real evidence is how someone lives, not what they claim.
It then makes this very practical by asking, “What… are the manifestations of the Father in the earth?” The answer is clear and simple: “that ye do good unto all peoples.” This is the Spirit of the Christ in action. It is not limited to certain people, groups, or those who agree with you. It means showing goodness, understanding, and care to all—especially when others are struggling with “troubles, doubts, fears, [and] distresses.” The Spirit of the Christ is revealed most clearly in how you respond to people in difficult situations. When you choose to help, encourage, support, or bring peace into someone’s life, you are becoming what the reading calls a “channel” through which that Spirit flows.
This idea of being a “channel” is very important. It means that the Spirit of the Christ does not stay inside you—it moves through you into the lives of others. Your words, your actions, and even your attitude become the way that this higher consciousness is expressed in the world. This is exactly how the Father was made known “through the Son,” as shown in the life of Christ—doing good to all, even to those who rejected Him. So the reading is saying that the same pattern must continue: the Spirit of the Christ is made visible through ordinary people living with extraordinary love.
Finally, the reading describes what happens when someone truly lives this way. They become “as a lamp to the feet of the wayward,” “an aid to those who seek,” and “a light to those that have gone astray.” This means their life begins to guide others—not by force or authority, but by example. People who are confused, lost, or searching can find clarity and direction through them. In this way, the Spirit of the Christ turns a person’s life into something that brings light, guidance, and hope to others.
This reading teaches that the Spirit of the Christ is not about what you say or claim—it is about what flows out of your life. It is seen in consistent goodness, in helping others in their struggles, in living with love even when it is difficult, and in becoming a steady source of light for those around you. When your thoughts, actions, and daily choices reflect these qualities, then the Spirit of the Christ is truly alive and active within you.
